1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari would be higher. At 5,736 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 55 more horse power than 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari. (153 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari weights approximately 689 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari (380 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 103 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit. 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari | |
| Make | Lotus | Pontiac |
| Model | Esprit | Grand Safari |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 5736 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 153 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 380 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1206 kg | 1895 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 5450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 2020 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2950 mm |
